Baldur

After Balderus defeated him in Jutland, Hotherus fled to Sweden. Balderus seized Seeland and gained the Danes’ support. They respected his martial ability and dignity. Hotherus declared war again, but Balderus defeated him, and Hotherus left Sweden alone. Weary of life and daylight, Hotherus entered a desolate wilderness. He reached a cave where three strange women sat. He recognised them as the women who had given him an impenetrable coat of mail. Hotherus reproached them because they had promised him victory, yet his battles had ended in defeat. They told him how Balderus could be overcome and gave him what he needed for the attempt.

The women had three serpents. They mixed the serpents’ venom into food prepared for Balderus. While they were preparing it, one woman offered some food to Hotherus. The eldest objected that strengthening Balderus’s enemy would be treason. Hotherus’s companion replied that he was one of Hotherus’s men, not Hotherus himself, so he could taste it. The women also gave Hotherus a beautiful girdle of victory. He then returned towards Balderus.

On the way, Hotherus met Balderus and thrust a special weapon into his side. Balderus fell half-dead. Hotherus’s camp rejoiced, while sorrow spread through the Danish camp. Balderus knew that the wound would kill him, but refused to remain in his tent. The following day, he had himself carried on a stretcher into the fiercest part of the battle. During the next night, Proserpina, the goddess of death, came to him and announced that he would be her guest. Balderus then died from Hotherus’s wound.

Baldr dreamed that his life was in danger. He told the other gods, who took counsel and decided to seek protection for him. Odin called an assembly to consider the portent. He then rode Sleipnir to Niflheim and questioned a prophetess about what would happen. She told him the future, although Odin already knew it and hoped that he might be mistaken.

Frigg travelled through the world and asked nearly everything she met to swear that it would never harm Baldr. Fire promised not to burn him. Water promised not to drown him. Iron and every other metal promised not to cut him. Stones swore not to bruise him. Frigg addressed the earth, trees, beasts, birds and creeping things. Trees of every kind, including oak, ash, pine, beech, birch and fir, promised that their wood would not be used against Baldr. She also asked diseases and infirmities for their oaths. They agreed not to wound or touch him.

Frigg overlooked the mistletoe, a small, young plant that grew on other trees. It seemed too insignificant to threaten Baldr. After the oaths had been secured, the gods made a pastime of testing them. Baldr stood among them while some shot at him, some struck him and others threw stones. Nothing harmed him. He appeared safe from every attack.

Loki disguised himself as an old woman and asked Frigg whether everything had sworn not to injure Baldr. Frigg admitted that she had obtained promises from everything except the mistletoe. Loki found the plant. At the gathering, he asked Hoder why he did not shoot at Baldr. Hoder said that he was blind and had no weapon. Loki gave him the mistletoe and guided his aim. Hoder shot Baldr, and the dart pierced him. Baldr fell dead. The gods were struck silent with horror, and their hands failed when they tried to take hold of his body.

Weapons, stones and other objects flew at Baldr while the gods gathered for sport. Some shot at him, some struck him and others threw stones. Nothing harmed him. Fire had sworn not to burn him. Water had sworn not to drown him. Iron and other metals had sworn not to cut him. Stones had sworn not to bruise him. Trees, beasts, birds, creeping things, diseases and every other thing Frigg had approached had also promised not to hurt him.

Frigg had asked each thing to swear an oath after Baldr’s dreams caused fear for his life. She had secured promises from the kinds of trees, from animals and birds, and from all sicknesses and infirmities. She had omitted the mistletoe, a small plant that grew on other trees. It seemed too young and harmless to matter.

Loki learned this by disguising himself as an old woman. He visited Frigg while she sat spinning in her palace and asked whether everything had sworn not to injure Baldr. Frigg told him about the mistletoe. Loki went to the great oak outside the gates of Valhalla, found the plant and used a spell to make it stronger and larger. He made an arrow from one of its twigs.

When the gods resumed their game, Loki noticed that Hodur, Baldr’s blind twin, was not taking part. He gave Hodur a bow and the mistletoe arrow, then offered to direct his aim. Hodur agreed. As Thor’s club struck towards Baldr and skipped over his head, the gods laughed. Loki then told Hodur to throw. The dart flew into Baldr. The laughter stopped, and Baldr fell fatally wounded. The gods cried out in horror. Nanna, Baldr’s wife, saw his lifeless body and died from grief beside him.